This is the second half of my reading diary for the Arabian Nights unit. Story source: The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898).
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| Aladdin kneeling before one of the two genies he had when trapped in the cave |
I haven't watched the Disney movie Aladdin in quite some time but now reading this makes me want to watch it right now. I do remember some parts, and this tales has quite a few different aspects than the movie I know and love. I was surprised that the man who pretended to be Aladdin's long lost uncle was actually a magician who left Aladdin trapped underground. I also thought it was interesting that he had one of the genies retrieve both the bride that he wanted and her new bridegroom, why not just have him killed? It seems kind of crazy that he expects the princess to now just fall in love with him when he had his genies steal her.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 3
Aladdin commanded his genies to disrupt and torment the newly couples sleep each night until the groom wanted to end his marriage. Upon this Aladdins mother went back and reminded the king of his promise of Aladdin to marry his daughter and he requested an insane amount of jewels and slaves. Filling this request, Aladdin and the princess were married and went to his newly created palace. I didn't realize slaves were a part of the story of Aladdin, but in this story they are spoken about as objects not people and its very disturbing. I am glad the kings vizir is catching on to Aladdins magic.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 4 and 5
The magician came back to retrieve the lamp and did so while Aladdin was on a hunting trip. He commanded the genie to transport him and the palace and the princess to a deserted place in Africa, they were in China. The king almost killed Aladdin but gave him 40 days to find his daughter. Aladdin found her in Africa and the two devised a plan to get the lamp back so they could go back home. I like that the princess never gave up on Aladdin's return even in the face of the magician constantly telling her he was dead. It was kind've evil to put drugs in his drink, I wish they would have had a dual or something for the lamp rather than taking it in this way.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 6
What a surprise to learn that the evil magician had an even more sinister younger brother. This younger brother disguised himself as a healing woman and planted an idea in Aladdins wifes head. She wanted a Roc's egg and so Aladdin asked the genie for it, little did he know this was a grave insult. Then Aladdin had to kill this evil brother and from there on out the couple leaved with no more problems. I liked that this ending wrapped everything up and that it ended in favor of the good people instead of the evil. I now really want to watch the Aladdin movie to see how these compare.
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